33: Chapter 33 Nine Hundred Taels of Silver

Mo Shoutian held the beast core in his hand and said:

"Shopkeeper Qiu, take a look at this beast core. How is it?"

Qiu Wansheng, who was pouring tea for Mo Shoutian, stopped his actions upon hearing this, turned around, and looked at the beast core in Mo Shoutian's hand.

Qiu Wansheng did not stand on ceremony; he reached out and took the beast core.

"Did you find this on a Black-striped Mountain Tiger, or an Iron-horned Cyan Ox?"

"It's from an Iron-horned Cyan Ox."

Qiu Wansheng said nothing more and kept his head down, looking at the beast core in his hand.

After a long while, he finally spoke:

"The quality looks alright, but as for how it actually is, I still need to ask the Immortal who collects beast cores."

Upon hearing this, Mo Shoutian quickly asked:

"Shopkeeper Qiu, how many Spirit Stones do you think this beast core is worth?"

Qiu Wansheng thought for a moment.

"I estimate it's worth at least four or five pieces. As for how much it can actually sell for, we'll have to wait until that Immortal takes a look before we know."

Mo Shoutian thought for a second and said:

"Shopkeeper Qiu, I plan to head back tomorrow, so as for the time..."

Qiu Wansheng naturally understood what he meant.

"Brother Shoutian, do you trust me, Qiu Wansheng?"

"Shopkeeper Qiu, you're being too polite with those words. Of course I trust you."

"That's good. Come over tonight to collect the Spirit Stones, but it will still be as we agreed before: no matter how much it sells for, I will take one Spirit Stone from it."

"Alright, no problem. I'll have to trouble Shopkeeper Qiu, then."

"Brother Shoutian is being too polite. Have some tea first; I'll put this beast core away for now."

After saying this, Qiu Wansheng put the beast core into his bosom and poured Mo Shoutian another cup of tea.

About half an hour later, a clerk knocked on the door and walked in.

"Shopkeeper Qiu, the goods have all been weighed. There are one hundred and eighty-seven catties of beast bones in total, and five hundred and eighty-six catties of meat."

Hearing this, Qiu Wansheng said to Mo Shoutian:

"Let's go, Brother Shoutian. Let's go take a look first. If there's no problem, we'll settle the account."

Mo Shoutian nodded and followed Qiu Wansheng out.

Seeing the two come out, Mo Changlin took the initiative to say:

"Shoutian, we've finished weighing it with the clerk."

After speaking, he nodded slightly toward Mo Shoutian, indicating there were no issues with the scale.

Qiu Wansheng took the abacus from the clerk's hand and began calculating with rapid clacking sounds.

After confirming there were no problems, he said to Mo Shoutian:

"The beast bones total one hundred and eighty-seven catties. Calculated at one tael of silver per catty, that comes to one hundred and eighty-seven taels."

"The tiger meat and beef total five hundred and eighty-six catties. Calculated at five hundred wen per catty, that comes to two hundred and ninety-three taels."

"The tiger skin is one hundred and twenty taels, the cowhide is one hundred taels, the four tiger paws and tiger teeth total one hundred taels, and the two ox horns are one hundred taels."

"Adding all these things together, it comes to a total of nine hundred taels of silver."

After finishing his calculation, Qiu Wansheng looked at Mo Shoutian and asked:

"Brother Shoutian, does this look correct to you?"

"Shopkeeper Qiu calculated it clearly and distinctly. There's no problem."

After confirming everything was correct, Qiu Wansheng prepared to settle the account for Mo Shoutian.

Mo Shoutian quickly said:

"Shopkeeper Qiu, please wait a moment. I plan to buy a few more heavy crossbows."

"Buy how many?"

"I want to buy five more heavy crossbows."

Qiu Wansheng smiled upon hearing this.

"Brother Shoutian is planning to expand his business in a big way, huh."

"Today, I, Qiu Wansheng, will also be straightforward. One heavy crossbow plus six crossbow bolts will be counted as thirty taels for you. Five heavy crossbows and thirty crossbow bolts will total one hundred and fifty taels."

Hearing this, Mo Shoutian cupped his fists.

"Then this brother thanks Shopkeeper Qiu."

"What's there to be polite about? If you hunt any large beasts in the future, just remember to sell them here with your Brother Qiu."

After finishing, Qiu Wansheng instructed the few clerks beside him:

"Take Brother Shoutian's men to load the heavy crossbows."

Then, he said to Mo Shoutian:

"Brother Shoutian, come into the room with me, I'll get you the silver."

Mo Shoutian followed Qiu Wansheng back into the room and took the remaining seven hundred and fifty taels of silver.

When he walked out of Qiu Wansheng's room with this silver on his back, it would be a lie to say he wasn't excited.

At this time, Mo Changlin and the others had also loaded the five heavy crossbows and walked toward Mo Shoutian.

Seeing the thing on Mo Shoutian's back, Mo Qingshi hurriedly asked:

"Uncle Shoutian, is this all silver inside here?"

Mo Shoutian smiled and nodded.

Mo Qingshi hurriedly ran up in front of him.

"Uncle Shoutian, I'll carry this thing."

As he spoke, he took the silver from Mo Shoutian's hands, carried it over to the carriage, and carefully placed it on the vehicle.

Mo Changlin looked around and then covered the silver tightly with a straw mat and tattered cloth.

Walking all the way here, Mo Changlin handled matters reliably; many things didn't require Mo Shoutian to speak before he had already thought of them.

Among these people, the one Mo Shoutian trusted the most was him.

Mo Shoutian didn't say much else, just nodded toward Mo Changlin.

"Let's make another trip to the Zhou Family Pharmacy."

After speaking, he took the lead and walked in front.

Mo Changlin and Mo Shouyi each led a carriage and followed behind, while Mo Qingshi and Mo Shoucheng closely watched the silver covered beneath the straw mat and tattered cloth.

At this time, the sun was already slanting westward, and it was the liveliest time in Jiuzhou City.

On both sides of the wide street, shops lined up one after another.

There were two-story restaurants and inns, as well as draper shops, grain shops, and pawnshops hanging cloth banners.

The store fronts of some shops were built quite grandly, with thick wooden pillars standing in front and a row of lanterns hanging under the eaves. There were also some small shops with only a single storefront, where clerks stood at the door, continuously greeting passing customers.

Stalls by the street were packed tightly against each other, selling food, fabrics, and groceries alike.

The steam rising from the steamer baskets drifted onto the street, and various cries mixed together, making people's ears ring in confusion.

There were also many pedestrians on the road.

There were wealthy people wearing silk clothes, and commoners entering the city with bundles on their backs.

Carriages and ox carts came and went, and from time to time people on horseback passed by.

When Mo Changlin and the others had just entered the city, they couldn't help but look around.

But now, none of them had the mood to look at those shops and restaurants anymore.

Mo Shoutian and Mo Changlin still maintained their composure fairly well.

Mo Shouyi held the horse's reins with one hand, while his other hand constantly pressed against the hunting knife at his waist.

Mo Qingshi and Mo Shoucheng walked separately on both sides of the carriage; whenever anyone got close, the two of them would immediately stare right at them.

Under Mo Shoutian's lead, the group walked for about half an hour and finally arrived at the Zhou Family Pharmacy.

Mo Shoutian handed the carriage reins in his hand to Mo Qingshi and turned to walk into the pharmacy.

It was close to dusk by now, and the pharmacy wasn't very busy.

As soon as Mo Shoutian walked in, a clerk greeted him.

"Patron, are you filling a prescription or selling medicine?"

"I am looking for Manager Zhou Chengan."

Just as Mo Shoutian finished speaking, a familiar voice came from not far away.

"Is this Brother Shoutian?"

The one speaking was precisely Zhou Chengan.

Mo Shoutian looked in the direction of the voice and only then discovered that Zhou Chengan was standing behind the medicine cabinet, holding an unknown medicinal herb in his hand.

"Brother Zhou, are your injuries healed?"

"Not completely healed yet, but it's about there."

Zhou Chengan put down the medicinal herb in his hand and walked out from behind the medicine cabinet.

"Brother Shoutian, when did you come to Jiuzhou City? Tonight, the two of us brothers must drink a few cups properly. Last time we left in too much of a rush, and I haven't had the chance to properly thank you for saving my life."

"Brother Zhou, you're being too polite. We won't drink alcohol today; this time your brother brought some medicinal herbs over, take a look and see if you'll buy them."